Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | A top Catholic cardinal admitted Saturday that Church files on priests who sexually abused children were destroyed or never even drawn up, a move which allowed paedophiles to prey on others. “Files that could have documented the terrible deeds and named those responsible …
Read More »No Brexit ‘deal in the desert’ for May: EU source
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | British Prime Minister Theresa May will have a chance to speak to fellow EU leaders at their summit with the Arab League, but she should not expect a Brexit breakthrough, an EU source said Friday. Arab and European leaders will meet for two days from Sunday in the Egyptian resort …
Read More »‘Xi cult’ app is China’s red hot hit
Beijing, China | AFP | A propaganda app that puts China’s powerful President Xi Jinping in anyone’s pockets has become a hit in the country — with a helpful nudge from Communist Party officials. Millions have downloaded the app, which tracks the amount of time users spend browsing inspirational quotes from …
Read More »Samsung launches folding smartphone in bid to rev up market
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Samsung on Wednesday unveiled its first folding handset as part of an effort to rev up demand in the slumping smartphone sector. The South Korean giant’s Galaxy Fold, unveiled at a San Francisco event, services as a smartphone with a 4.6-inch display and unfolds …
Read More »Winners of the 2019 Brit Awards
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Manchester four-piece The 1975 were the big winners at the 2019 Brit Awards in London on Wednesday. Here are the main winners: British album of the year — “A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships” by The 1975 British male solo artist — George Ezra …
Read More »Breakdancing proposed as new sport by 2024 Olympics: organisers
París, France | AFP | Breakdancing has been invited as a new sport by the organisers of the 2024 Paris Olympics, the head of the local organising committee said Thursday. Skateboarding, climbing and surfing, which have already been added to the programme for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, have been invited …
Read More »Barclays rebounds into profit in 2018
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Barclays rebounded sharply into profit in 2018, as a vast hit from the previous year on the sale of its African business was not repeated, the British bank announced Thursday. The lender’s performance came despite vast litigation costs and a new charge on the impact …
Read More »Air France-KLM more than doubles profits in 2018 despite strikes
Paris, France | AFP | Air France-KLM, which was badly hit last year by strikes and management upheaval, reported on Wednesday that its annual net profits rose by 150 percent to 409 million euros ($463 million). “The strong performance of our front-line teams and continued cost control helped partly offset the …
Read More »App-based delivery men highlight India’s growing gig economy
Mumbai, India | AFP | Suraj Nachre works long hours and regularly misses meals but he treasures his job as a driver for a food delivery startup — working in a booming industry that highlights India’s expanding apps-based gig-economy. The 26-year-old is one of hundreds of thousands of young Indians who, …
Read More »The Sanders effect: 2020 hopeful has pulled Democrats leftward
Washington, United States | AFP | Once declared too radical by Democratic leaders, the policies pushed by Bernie Sanders including universal health care have tilted toward mainstream party acceptance, themes he and several rival progressives will uphold on the US presidential campaign trail. Sanders on Tuesday became the latest figure to …
Read More »